Premium
Caecal intussusception in the horse: Ultrasonographic findings and survival to hospital discharge of 60 cases (2009–2013)
Author(s) -
Paulussen E.,
Broux B.,
Bergen T.,
Lefère L.,
De Clercq D.,
Loon G.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
equine veterinary education
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.304
H-Index - 31
eISSN - 2042-3292
pISSN - 0957-7734
DOI - 10.1111/eve.12798
Subject(s) - medicine , intussusception (medical disorder) , surgery , horse , colostomy , ultrasound , general surgery , radiology , paleontology , biology
Summary Diagnosis of caecal intussusception can be challenging. Transabdominal ultrasound is often used as a diagnostic tool in equine colic. Differentiation between caecocaecal and caecocolic intussusception might be useful in the decision process before surgery. The aims of this study were: 1) to assess the usefulness of ultrasound for diagnosis of intussusception and differentiation between caecocaecal and caecocolic intussusception; and 2) to determine survival to hospital discharge after surgery. Therefore, a retrospective case series (2009–2013) was performed of all colic cases with caecal intussusception (n = 60) confirmed at surgery or necropsy. In all horses, the intussusception could be visualised using ultrasound at admission. Caecocolic intussusception (n = 46) was much more common than caecocaecal (n = 14) intussusception and correct ultrasonographic differentiation between both types could be made in 92% of the cases. Ten horses (out of 14) diagnosed with caecocaecal intussusception underwent surgery, of which 8/10 (80%) were discharged, one horse (10%) was subjected to euthanasia during and one (10%) after surgery. Of the 28 (out of 46) operated horses with caecocolic intussusception, 17 (61%) survived to discharge, while 7 (25%) and 4 (14%) were subjected to euthanasia during and after surgery, respectively. Of all horses that underwent surgery, in 13/38 (34%) surgical reduction was possible, while 13/38 (34%) needed partial typhlectomy and 4/38 (11%) needed colostomy because of an irreducible intussusception. Survival to discharge after successful surgery was 12/13 (92%) when only reduction was performed, 11/13 (85%) if partial typhlectomy was needed and 2/4 (50%) after colostomy and partial typhlectomy. In conclusion, abdominal ultrasound is a useful tool in the diagnosis and differentiation of caecal intussusception. Survival to hospital discharge after successful surgery is good.